Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dairy farmers there were in (a) 1990 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Allan Wilson: The number of occupiers of holdings classified as dairy farms in 1990 and 2003 was 2,100 and 1,500 respectively. These figures are taken from the Agricultural Census conducted in June of each year.

Agriculture

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average size of dairy herds was in (a) 1990 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Allan Wilson: The average number of dairy cattle on holdings classified as dairy farms in 1990 and 2003 was 120 and 160 respectively. These figures are taken from the Agricultural Census conducted in June each year.

Agriculture

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, dairy farm businesses have gone out of business in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Allan Wilson: Information is not available at the level of detail requested.

Agriculture

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of dairy processing businesses is (a) farmer-owned co-operatives and (b) private companies.

Allan Wilson: This information is not held centrally.

Animal Disease Surveillance

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the current controls on bovine TB.

Allan Wilson: I am pleased to announce the issue today of a consultation document on proposals for a new Great Britain strategy on bovine TB. This seeks views on both long term measures aimed at achieving a sustainable control policy in Great Britain and on short term measures which would limit the spread of the disease from high to low incidence areas. Responses to this consultation will help inform the drafting of a strategy which will then itself be subject to consultation. Copies have been placed in the Scottish Parliaments Information Centre (Bib. number 30959).

Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Bill

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the fixed penalty notices proposed in the draft Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill will be (a) regarded as convictions and (b) quotable in future legal proceedings.

Ms Margaret Curran: Paragraphs 169-171 of the Policy Memorandum to the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill explain how the Executive expects the fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for anti-social offences, introduced by Part 11 of the Bill, to operate.

  A fixed penalty notice issued under the proposals will not be a criminal conviction if the notice is paid.

  Previous fixed penalty notices will not be quotable in future legal proceedings, although they will be recorded and the police and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will have access to this information. The Lord Advocate has the power to direct the police about in what circumstances a FPN should be used. Guidance will take into account handling of cases where FPNs have been used previously.

Broadcasting

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the relationship is between it and OFCOM; what rights it has to give direction and guidance to OFCOM; what its role is in the appointment of any Scottish representative, and whether it has submitted any nominations, or commented on the suitability of a nominee, for such a representative and, if so, what advice it has given.

Frank McAveety: The Executive and OFCOM have a non-statutory relationship and are developing linkages to ensure appropriate dialogue. As OFCOM is a UK-wide regulator, only the UK Government has the statutory basis for providing it with direction and guidance, including on appointments.

  The Executive has been updated on progress with Scottish representative appointments to OFCOM by the new regulator and also by Scotland Office.

Broadcasting

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the protocols are in respect of its dealings with OFCOM.

Frank McAveety: The Executive expects to have close working relationships with OFCOM and its Scottish representatives. We are currently discussing the means by which we will establish our non-statutory relationship with the new regulator. In the meantime, OFCOM is keeping the Executive informed of its own plans and progress.

Culture

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it will play in implementing the objectives and principles of Part II of the European Charter on Regional and Minority Languages, with particular reference to Scots and Gaelic.

Peter Peacock: The policies, legislation and practice of the Scottish Executive plays an important role in implementing the objectives and principles of Part II of the European Charter on Regional and Minority Languages, with regard to Scots and Gaelic.

  In addition the Executive has adopted two partnership commitments which will further strengthen its role in implementing the objectives and principles of Part II of the charter. These are the commitment to a National Languages Strategy in support of Scotland’s languages and securing the status of Gaelic by means of a Gaelic language bill.

  The implementation of many of the objectives and principles in Part II of the Charter are for other public bodies and institutions. The Scottish Executive would expect that due recognition would be given to these objectives and principles at these levels.

  The Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts are due to report soon on the UK’s record on the charter. Following this the Executive will write to local authorities, public bodies and other institutions reminding them of the UK’s treaty obligations with regard to Scots and Gaelic.

Culture

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is with regard to supporting and promoting traditional music and how much it has (a) spent on and/or (b) budgeted for traditional music in each year from 1999 to 2005, stating which organisations have received funding.

Mr Frank McAveety: Support for all of the traditional arts is a key part of the Executive’s cultural strategy. The Scottish Arts Council (SAC) gives traditional music priority across its various funding strands: education through organisations such as Feisan nan Gaidheal and Feis Rois and also through cultural co-ordinators and the Youth Music Initiative; a national tutor training network; professional development and performing opportunities; composition classes; traditional music officer posts in local authority areas; festivals such as Celtic Connections and Hebridean Celtic Festival; promotion through events such as Showcase Scotland. In addition, SAC Lottery awards to this sector include awards to the National Youth Pipe Band, the Gordon Gaitherin, the Feis movement and Celtic Connections.

  Detailed information on the sums spent on and budgeted for traditional music is given in the document Scottish Arts Council - Scottish Executive Awards to Traditional Music 1999 to 2004 a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 30870). It is estimated that in each of the last two years over £1 million has been allocated to traditional music across the country from both voted and Lottery funds.

Culture

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Royal Mail to produce a set of postage stamps to celebrate the Year of Highland Culture 2007.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Highland Year of Culture 2007 project team is looking at a range of programming and other options to celebrate the occasion. The member’s suggestion will be forwarded to the team for consideration.

Dentistry

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether equal access to NHS dentistry is a fundamental principal of the NHS.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is committed to the provision of NHS dental services for all those who wish to use them.

Dentistry

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider providing state subsidised access to private dental practices in areas where there are no NHS dentists.

Mr Tom McCabe: There are currently no plans for the Executive to contribute to private dental costs.

Dentistry

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the conclusion of the review of NHS dentistry in 2004, it will give a commitment to guarantee access to an NHS dentist in every part of Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: The future of NHS dental services in Scotland will be shaped by the outcome of the consultation on Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland . I have extended the closing date for responses to the consultation to 2 April 2004.

Dentistry

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the publication of the conclusions of Towards Better Oral Health in Children.

Malcolm Chisholm: Our response to this consultation will be announced as soon as possible. An independent analysis of the views expressed during the consultative process will be published at the same time.

Development

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4331 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 8 December 2003, whether any impact assessments other than retail impact assessments have been carried out in respect of the proposed development at the Ravenscraig site and, if not, whether traffic, residential, economic and environmental impact assessments will be carried out.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: In addition to retail impact assessments, a transport assessment, environmental impact assessment, flood risk assessment, contaminated land statement and master plan report were all prepared on behalf of the applicant. It is for North Lanarkshire Council, as planning authority, to decide whether any further assessments are necessary.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) the Department for Trade and Industry, (b) HM Treasury, (c) the Scotland Office, (d) the Bank of England, (e) the Inland Revenue Commissioners and (f) HM Customs and Excise regarding the growth of the Scottish economy, stating what meetings have taken place since June 1999 and the outcomes of such meetings.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including exchanges on fostering growth in Scotland.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the creation of new businesses and companies and whether these arrangements are sufficient to inform policy on economic growth.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what statistical information collected by Her Majesty's Government and organisations regarding the creation of new businesses or companies in Scotland it uses to inform policies on economic growth.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce new measures to monitor the creation of new businesses and companies.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the cessation of trading of businesses and companies and whether these arrangements are sufficient to inform policy on economic growth.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what statistical information collected by Her Majesty's Government and organisations regarding the cessation of trading by businesses or companies in Scotland it uses to inform its policies on economic growth.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce new measures to monitor the cessation of trading of businesses and companies.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive monitors the creation and cessation of businesses using:

  VAT registrations and de-registrations provided by the Department of Trade and Industry;

  The Interdepartmental Business Register maintained by the Office for National Statistics and

  Companies House registrations and de-registrations.

  These sources are backed up by:

  Data on insolvencies from the Department of Trade and Industry;

  The number of new business accounts opened at branches of the four major Scottish Clearing Banks;

  Data from the Labour Force Survey (ONS) and

  Management Information from the Enterprise Networks on supported new starts.

  The development of policies is additionally informed by detailed analysis of the Interdepartmental Business Register, evaluation studies and a range of research surveys.

  The Executive keeps the data and information sources that it uses to monitor the creation and cessation of businesses under regular review. Currently the arrangements are sufficient for monitoring policy on this aspect of economic growth, and there are no immediate plans for additional monitoring.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to liaise with business organisations, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the public and voluntary sectors to produce a joint plan for economic growth.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland, published in June 2000, (FEDS) sets out the Executive’s overarching vision for economic development in the medium and long term. I believe that the direction set out in FEDS remains fundamentally sound, but I recognise that the economic and policy contexts have evolved since the original publication. My officials are therefore revisiting FEDS with a view to publishing a revised framework  in the coming months. Views have been invited from all interested parties.

  In addition, we continually seek to work in partnership with business organisations, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) and public and voluntary sectors and other key stakeholders in contributing to Scotland’s economic growth. Engagement is through a variety of channels, including: bi-annual ministerial meetings with the STUC General Council and regular liaison at official level; an on-going programme of ministerial events with business and trade organisations, and regular contact with the voluntary sector.

Enterprise

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are available to it to encourage the use of Scottish professional firms by UK private companies, stating in each case what use it has made of that power.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has no powers to intervene in the commercial decisions UK private companies take in respect of their use of professional services. However, Scottish Development International does hold information on Scottish professional firms as part of its work with UK companies operating in Scotland, and will encourage companies to consider their use whenever appropriate.

Enterprise

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5311 by Mr Andy Kerr on 21 January 2004, what the cost of the commissioned research on overseas views of different marketing approaches will be.

Mr Andy Kerr: The research activity presently underway is designed to build upon our knowledge of how Scotland is perceived in a range of countries and domestically; and how we can use creative material to change or build upon those perceptions. It will inform a number of elements of the Executive's work to help achieve partnership agreement objectives by promoting Scotland overseas in a more coherent and effective way. The present phase of the research is likely to cost in the region of £185,000. Further research may be commissioned at later stages.

Europe

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits to Scotland are of its delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) is a consultative body of the Council of Europe which, among other things, provides a forum where local and regional elected representatives can discuss common problems, pool their experience and express their views to governments of member states.

  The Scottish Executive believes that its membership of the UK delegation to CLRAE provides clear, long-term potential for building alliances with European regional and local authorities, in particular through CLRAE’s Working Group on Regions with Legislative Powers, where the Scottish delegate represents the UK.

Europe

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who its representative, and substitute, is to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive representative on the UK delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) is Peter Peacock MSP, Minister for Education and Young People. The Parliamentary Bureau agreed at its meeting on 18 November 2003 that Mr Peacock’s substitute on CLRAE should be Phil Gallie MSP.

Europe

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it participates in the Group of Regions with Legislative Powers and what the benefits to Scotland are from participation.

Mr Andy Kerr: The First Minister is currently President of the Group of Regions with Legislative Powers (REGLEG); he has attended annual conferences of the Group since its inception in 2001. Scottish Executive officials are active in – and, during the First Minister’s Presidency, chair – the Co-ordination Committee which is remitted by Minister-Presidents to take forward the work of the Group between conferences. Through its participation in REGLEG, Scotland has gained an increased profile in Europe and with other influential regions with legislative powers which has led to the signature of four co-operation agreements for sharing information and best practice in areas of mutual interest and other informal links. We have also been well placed to influence the work of REGLEG towards an enhanced role for regions with legislative powers in European decision-making, ensuring that the policies adopted by REGLEG reflect Scottish interests.

External Relations

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1584 by Mr Andy Kerr on 13 August 2003, what the outcome was of the General Assembly of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions in September 2003.

Mr Andy Kerr: The 31st Annual General Assembly of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR), held in Saint-Malo, France on 11 and 12 September 2003, adopted a final declaration calling for the organisation to help find positive solutions "ensuring the success of a Union which is both continent-wide and deeper", and "making a success of the global governance issue for a sustainable development of the planet".

  The General Assembly also adopted four resolutions dealing with reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, fisheries, local management of inshore fisheries and fisheries in the Mediterranean.

  The text of the final declaration and the resolutions can be found on the CPMR’s website at www.cpmr.org.

Gaelic

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to obtain a dedicated digital channel or additional Scottish output for Scotland and the Gaelic language and, if it has, what stage any negotiations have reached.

Peter Peacock: In May 2002, a short-life working group was established to advise UK ministers on the gaelic broadcasting provisions to be inserted into the draft communications bill. The Scottish Executive, Scotland Office and the Department of Culture Media and Sport participated along with other key stakeholders.

  The working group helped shape the Gaelic provisions of the Communications Act 2003. This act established a new gaelic media service (SnMG) to replace the present gaelic broadcasting committee (CCG).

  The new legislation also enabled the gaelic media service to apply to OfCOM for a broadcast licence. This would allow a dedicated Gaelic TV channel to be delivered on a digital platform. This is now a matter for the board of the gaelic media service to consider after consultation with relevant interests and stakeholders.

Health

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is to register a drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit with the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and what help is available towards such registration costs.

Mr Tom McCabe: Drug and alcohol rehabilitation units only have to register with the Care Commission if they fall within one of the definitions of care services currently regulated under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. Those who wish to provide regulated care services have to apply to the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care for registration. Applications must be accompanied by the relevant registration fee. There are different levels of fees for different services. No specific help is available towards Care Commission registration costs.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision there is for spinal cord stimulation treatment for people with refractory angina.

Malcolm Chisholm: Each of the four neurosurgical centres in Scotland provides this service.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5091 by Mr Andy Kerr on 21 January 2004, whether it will provide a breakdown of the £6.7 million capital expenditure on the Holyrood project in 1998-99 into payments (a) to architects (b) to the construction manager (c) to construction engineers (d) to quantity surveyors (e) to other consultants and (f) on the building itself.

Mr Andy Kerr: Breakdown
 Cost


 (a)
 Architects
 £1.2 million


 (b)
 Construction Management
 Nil


 (c)
 Construction Engineers
 £0.9 million


 (d)
 Quantity Surveyors
 £0.3 million


 (e)
 Other Consultants
 £0.4 million


 (f)
 On Building (Site acquisition and preparation)
 £3.9 million


 Total
  
 £6.7 million

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4958 by Ms Margaret Curran on 13 January 2004, whether the procedure for the assessment of housing need will be kept under review and whether the views of housing associations will be taken into account when undertaking any review.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to reply. Her response is as follows.

  There are no proposals at present to review the procedure for the assessment of housing need. It is our intention to review the local housing strategies process later this year, once all strategies have been submitted and assessed. If, following this review, it is decided that changes are necessary, then, as with the original local housing strategies guidance, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and COSLA will be consulted.

Immigration

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Home Office in respect of how many work permits for residence will be made available for employment in Scotland; whether, under the Fresh Talent initiative, it will be able to target prospective migrants, such as foreign graduates, and, if so, how it will do this; whether it will offer accommodation and jobs to such migrants and, if so, how such offers will be made, and whether applications for such work permits will still require to be approved by Her Majesty’s Government.

Mr Jack McConnell: The responsibility for the issue of work permits lies with the Home Office. Work permit arrangements allow employers based in the UK to employ people who are not nationals of a European economic area country and who are not otherwise entitled to work in the UK. In most cases employers are required to apply for work permits on behalf of a specific person for a specific post.

  Discussions are ongoing between the Home Office and Scottish ministers to establish the best possible way of achieving fresh talent objectives within the UK work permit system. I plan to make a statement to Parliament on this soon.

Income

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults had an income of (a) less than £5,000, (b) £5,001-£7,500, (c) £7,501-£10,000, (d) £10,001-£15,000, (e) £15,001-£20,000, (f) £20,001-£30,000, (g) £30,001-£35,000, (h) £35,001-£40,000, (i) £40,001-£50,000, (j) £50,001-£75,000 and (k) £75,001-£100,000 in each of the last six years for which information is available.

Ms Margaret Curran: The following table presents estimates of the numbers of adults with gross income falling in the various income bands, for each of the years 1996-97 to 2001-02. The estimates are derived from the Family Resources Survey’s (FRS) Individual Incomes Analysis. Due to the small sample size of the FRS in Scotland, the higher income bands have been grouped together; the sample sizes are too small to give reliable estimates for the separate groups (g)-(k) in the question.

  The income is gross income and includes all elements of income that are accrued to the individual in their own right. This includes income from earnings, self-employment, occupational pensions, investments, social security benefits, and, in 2001-02, tax credits. Elements of income that are generally accrued by a household rather than an individual are excluded, e.g. housing benefit and council tax benefit, and income from letting/sub-letting.

  For the purposes of the table, individuals’ incomes in each year have not been up-rated for inflation, but represent their actual incomes during the year of the survey.

  

 Number of Adults 
  in Scotland by Income Band


 Income 1(£ 
  per year)
 Estimated 
  Number of Adults


 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02


 0–5,000
 1,390,000
 1,220,000
 1,220,000
 1,190,000
 1,140,000
 880,000


 5,000.01–7,500
 570,000
 580,000
 560,000
 580,000
 560,000
 580,000


 7500.01-10000
 440,000
 480,000
 460,000
 430,000
 440,000
 470,000


 10,000.01–15,000
 660,000
 670,000
 660,000
 650,000
 640,000
 730,000


 15,000.01–20,000
 330,000
 410,000
 380,000
 400,000
 400,000
 450,000


 20,000.01-30,000
 360,000
 370,000
 410,000
 420,000
 480,000
 510,000


 30,000.01–40,000
 90,000
 100,000
 120,000
 140,000
 130,000
 170,000


 40,000 plus
 70,000
 80,000
 100,000
 110,000
 130,000
 140,000



  Note:

  1. Excludes any income which is not accrued directly to the individual in their own right, but also excludes student loans, Social Fund loans and benefits in kind.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to supervise prisoners after release from long-term sentences and whether there are any implications arising from such persons choosing to change their names.

Cathy Jamieson: Prisoners serving sentences of four years or more are released on licence and are subject to statutory supervision on release. The service for this group is currently being enhanced in response to the recommendations contained in the report from the Tripartite Group "Throughcare – Developing the Service." This reflects the priority given to public protection.

  The Scottish Prison Service policy on requests by prisoners to change their name differentiates between those prisoners who have officially changed their name(s) i.e. had their new name recorded by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and prisoners who wish to be known by a new name but have not had that new name officially recorded. In each case, the prisoner’s records are marked appropriately in order to highlight any change of name to the local authority responsible for supervision on release.

  Additionally under the Sex Offenders Act 1997, relevant sex offenders currently are required to notify the police of their name, and, where he also uses one or more other names, each of those names. Under section 84 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (to be commenced on 1 May 2004) offenders will be required to notify a change to the notified details (such as name or by assuming an alias) within three days of the change taking place, thus shortening the current period under the Sex Offenders Act 1997 which is 14 days.

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is being made available to the United States Government and its agencies on individual criminal records in respect of applications for visa from people in Scotland wishing to travel to the United States of America.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Criminal Record Office holds the records of persons convicted by Scottish courts. It has not made any information directly available to US authorities in connection with visa applications.

  Individuals are, however, able to obtain criminal record information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998. An individual may also apply for a criminal conviction certificate under the Police Act 1997. In neither case does the individual have to state the purpose for which the information is required. Information from these sources may be being made available to US authorities by individual visa applicants.

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the debate on 29 January 2003, what communication it has had with Her Majesty's Government on its plans for a Supreme Court in the United Kingdom.

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive has been advised that today Lord Falconer, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, will make an oral statement to the House of Lords and that Chris Leslie MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State will make a similar oral statement in the House of Commons setting out the Government’s proposals in regard to the Supreme Court for the United Kingdom. The Scottish Executive welcomes this opportunity to again endorse support in principle for the proposed reforms which were debated in this house on 29 January 2004.

  Copies of the statement are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 30973).

NHS Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the pay modernisation team looking at the impact of the general medical services and consultant contracts is expected to report and whether the report will include consideration of any retrospective implications for NHS boards.

Malcolm Chisholm: The pay modernisation team is co-ordinating a wide range of work at local and national level to aid the implementation of the general medical services and consultants’ contract and to help oversee delivery of the contracts and their impact. This is an on-going process taken forward through a number of strands and involving regular updates and advice on implementation and its consequences. This work does involve consideration of retrospective implications.

Radioactive Waste

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response will be to the proposal of the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy to set up deep geological disposals as an effective solution for high-level and long-lived radioactive waste.

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy in respect of the committee’s proposed two step approach towards the development of deep geological disposal sites for high-level and long-lived radioactive waste and whether it will seek a full explanation of what such an approach entails.

Allan Wilson: The Executive, along with the UK government and the other devolved administrations, has begun a well-publicised process to review the long term management of radioactive waste. The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) has been set up to assess the options for radioactive waste management. It is to deliver its recommendations to ministers on a preferred option, or combination of options, by the end of 2005. The use of deep geological disposal is only one of the many options to be assessed. Central to the process will be a round of public debate in 2006, with implementation set to begin in 2007.

  It would not be appropriate for the Executive to make any response directly to the European Parliament about its consideration of the Commission’s proposed directives on spent nuclear fuel and on radioactive waste management, including the option of deep geological disposal, but the Executive recognises the need not to undermine the current CoRWM process which is essential to the future long term management of radioactive waste within the UK.

Rail Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that it is involved in Her Majesty's Government's review of the railways.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the review of the railways. The Executive will play a full role in the review.

Salmon Farming

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set up an independent inquiry into the safety of eating farmed salmon.

Mr Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the recent publication of an American study in the journal Science, does not give rise to any new food safety concerns, and the levels of dioxins found in the farmed salmon and the resultant intakes are below the safety levels set by the World Health Organisation, the European Union and the United States Food and Drug Administration.

  The Food Standards Agency continues to advise consumers, on the basis of expert scientific opinion, to eat at least two portions of fish per week, once of which should be an oily fish such as salmon. Independent experts agree that the known health benefits from eating a portion of oily fish per week outweigh any possible risks.

Salmon Farming

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all scientific evidence available to it and its agencies, so that independent scientists may assess the claims and counter-claims in relation to any potential health risk associated with farmed salmon.

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Food Standards Agency that the agency should make available its scientific evidence on the health implications of toxic contaminants in farmed salmon.

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Food Standards Agency that the agency should make available evidence regarding the different level of toxic contaminants between farmed and wild salmon.

Mr Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that it publishes all results from surveys and research that it commissions. Results from previous dioxins surveys are in the public domain, and more results are due to be published shortly. The agency also aims to publish, by the end of 2004, results from a larger survey of dioxins in fish, including wild and farmed salmon. In 2001, the agency published detailed advice from the independent advisory committee, the committee on toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment, explaining how tolerable daily intakes of dioxins are calculated. All of this information is publicly available on the agency’s web-site.

Salmon Farming

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific evidence there is showing that children can be fed a portion of salmon every week with no associated health risks.

Mr Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that risks associated with dioxins were assessed by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment in 2001. The committee’s opinion provides the basis of the agency’s advice that the benefits of a balanced diet outweigh the risk of dioxin intake for both adults and children. The biggest diet-related risk to UK health is heart disease and oily fish, including salmon, contain fatty acids that help prevent this. Most people in the UK do not eat enough oily fish, average consumption being only a quarter of a portion per week.

Salmon Farming

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it will publish concerning the number of portions of farmed salmon that may be eaten each year without increased risk of cancer or other negative health effects.

Mr Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that based on expert scientific opinion, it recommends that consumers should aim to eat at least two portions of fish per week, one of which should be oily such as salmon, either farmed or wild. The known health benefits of eating oily fish at this level outweigh any possible risks. In 2003, the Food Standards Agency asked a group of experts to advise on the balance of risks and benefits of regularly eating more than this over many years. This group will report later this year. Most people in the UK do not eat enough oily fish, average consumption being only a quarter of a portion per week.

Salmon Farming

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidance to public institutions providing meals, including schools and hospitals, on how many portions of farmed salmon may be eaten without increasing the risk of developing cancer or other negative health effects.

Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that current Government advice, based on expert scientific opinion, is that consumers should aim to eat at least two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily. The biggest diet-related risk to UK health is heart disease and oily fish, including salmon, contain fatty acids that help prevent this.

  Guidance on fish consumption in schools is already set out within the document Hungry for Success: A Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland which was produced by the Expert Panel on School Meals in November 2002.

  Hospitals are expected to meet the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Standards for the provision of food, fluid and nutritional care. A national nutritional and catering specification for hospitals is being developed but there are no plans for specific guidance on salmon.

Salmon Farming

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide advice for groups of people, such as pregnant women, children and others at risk of cardiovascular disease, on how many portions of farmed salmon may be eaten each year without increasing the risk of cancer or other negative health effects.

Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that current Government advice, based on expert scientific opinion, is that consumers should aim to eat at least two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily. The biggest diet-related risk to UK health is heart disease and oily fish, including salmon, contain fatty acids that help prevent this.

  In 2003, the Food Standards Agency asked the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and the Committee on Toxicity of Chemical in Food Consumer Products and the Environment to jointly review the latest evidence on the balance of risks and benefits of increased consumption of fish. Advice on this is expected later this year.

  In the meantime the Food Standards Agency and the Scottish Executive will continue to make information and advice available to consumers through the Agency’s web-site and the "Healthy Living" line.

Social Work

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will improve funding and other arrangements in order to increase the number of people qualifying as social care staff.

Euan Robson: A £2.2 million specific grant was initially earmarked for local authorities for training in 2003-04 but an additional £11 million is being provided over three years until 2005-06. This comprises of £9 million to local authorities for training and £2 million specifically for a post-graduate course in leadership skills for social work managers in both the local authority and voluntary sectors.

  This additional funding complements a number of measures already in place, including a recruitment and awareness campaign, the new Framework for Social Work Education incorporating a new honours degree, the establishment of the Scottish Social Services Council, the development of the Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education, fast-track recruitment and incentive schemes and a return to practice programme. In addition, I have set up, under my chairmanship, the National Workforce Group to develop a workforce action plan. One of its three working groups is producing a national education, training and development strategy.

Sport

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has studied the results of  sportscotland’s Active Primary Schools pilot programme and, if so, whether it will publish its findings.

Mr Frank McAveety: Sportscotland are currently considering a draft report of the evaluation of the active primary schools programme prepared by The Scottish Council for Research in Education.  Sportscotland hope to be in a position to publish the report shortly. The report will be available from  sportscotland and I will arrange for copies of the report to be deposited in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre.

Sport

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fully fund the provision of school sports co-ordinators.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Executive has committed £24 million to the active schools programme which is a merger, extension and development of the school sports co-ordinator and the active primary schools programmes. The active schools programme will be a partnership between  sportscotland and each of the 32 local authorities who will be expected to make a significant financial contribution.

Sport

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it has decided not to provide additional funding to enable local authorities to roll out the extension of the Sport Interactive programme.

Mr Frank McAveety: It is for individual local authorities and headteachers to decide whether they wish to introduce the sport interactive programme within their schools. The Executive has committed £24 million to the active schools programme over the three years to 2005-06 to take forward its commitment to increasing levels of physical activity including sports participation in our school children.

Sport

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the success of the Sport Interactive programme in Scotland and its proposed introduction in Ireland, what additional support it will now give to the programme.

Mr Frank McAveety: The development of the Sport Interactive programme is a commercial venture by a private sector company and as such it would not be appropriate for the Executive to provide support without going through a normal procurement exercise.

Sport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government in respect of the implications of London's bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012 for Scotland's sporting infrastructure and whether there are any plans to (a) construct a stadium in Edinburgh or (b) provide full size indoor stadia elsewhere in Scotland as part of the bid.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive is liaising with Her Majesty's Government with a view to maximising the benefit for Scotland which a successful London 2012 bid would generate and to minimising any adverse impact of Lottery funding for good causes in Scotland.

  There are no plans for sports facility developments in Scotland as part of the London bid.

  Hampden Park has been nominated as one of the venues for the Olympic football tournament.

Student Finance

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that, as long as the current First Minister is in office, there will be no increase in the level of the graduate endowment, other than in line with inflation as specified in the Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Act 2001.

Mr Jim Wallace: The level of the graduate endowment is governed by regulation 7 of the Graduate Endowment (Scotland) Regulations 2001 which specifies that the amount will be increased only by the rate of inflation for graduates in future years. We have no plans to amend this legislation.

Student Finance

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that, as long as the current First Minister is in office, it will not bring forward any proposals to require Scottish domiciled students attending university in Scotland, to pay any contribution, additional to the present graduate endowment, towards the cost of their higher education, either to the university or to the Executive irrespective of how such a liability to pay may be characterised.

Mr Jim Wallace: We have no current plans to introduce any new charges for Scottish students for university tuition.

Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Her Majesty's Government's review of the railways will have on the Executive's plans to set up a transport agency.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the review of the railways. We remain committed to delivering our partnership agreement commitment to bring forward proposals for a new Scottish transport agency and our proposals will seek to capitalise upon benefits arising from the review.

Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to Her Majesty's Government with regard to the possible devolution of further decisions on public transport to the Executive.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the review which was announced by the Secretary of State for Transport in his statement to the House of Commons on 19 January 2004.

Wind Farms

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has conducted with regard to the possible effects on the Scottish climate of the extraction of energy from the atmosphere by wind farms.

Lewis Macdonald: We have not conducted any studies of this kind.